Marchetti set for exit

Federico Marchetti is set to leave Cagliari after the club announced that the goalkeeper was for sale.

Last Updated: 27/07/10 1:34pm

Federico Marchetti is set to leave Cagliari after the club announced that the goalkeeper was up for sale.

The 27-year-old played in goal for Italy for the majority of their dismal World Cup campaign in which they finished bottom of their group following an injury in the opening game to Gianluigi Buffon.

The fact that Marchetti was called up in South Africa appears to have raised his own ambitions, with the player publicly declaring that he was disappointed not to be given the opportunity to move to Sampdoria.

According to the shot-stopper, Cagliari asked for too much money from their Serie A rivals, denying him the chance to play UEFA Champions League football next season.

The news may also be of interest to Arsenal, who have been linked several times with the former Torino man.

The comments from Marchetti to La Gazzetta dello Sport prompted a reaction from club president Massimo Cellino, who spoke of his disappointment at the player's decision.

Pushing

"I understood from his words that he doesn't want to stay with us," Cellino told Sport Italia.

"I would have preferred it is he had said so to me and not to the newspapers, but there aren't offers for him. And there is full confidence in (reserve goalkeeper) Michael Agazzi.

"The only real club that is pushing for his signature is Arsenal."

A statement on the club's official website also confirmed that the player had been made available.

"Cagliari Calcio take note of the fact that Federico Marchetti has expressed his wish to leave due to his declaration with the press," the statement read.

"The club will do everything to make him content. Should Marchetti really have to leave Cagliari, then the regular keeper will be Agazzi. Cagliari aren't looking for another keeper."